Many Seattle supporters live in a fantasy world where everyone is out to get them (U.S. Open Cup organizers, Salazar, Garber, Santa Clause, etc), versus accepting the reality that Burch used unacceptable behavior and is being punished. They whining never ends.

Many Seattle supporters live in a fantasy world where everyone is out to get them (U.S. Open Cup organizers, Salazar, Garber, Santa Clause, etc), versus accepting the reality that Burch used unacceptable behavior and is being punished. They whining never ends.

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And he got the exact same suspension for saying the exact same thing that Colin Clark did in Seattle. If Seattle didn't plan for this, expecting a suspension (especially after Burch said he did it), than Schmid is an idiot.

And he got the exact same suspension for saying the exact same thing that Colin Clark did in Seattle. If Seattle didn't plan for this, expecting a suspension (especially after Burch said he did it), than Schmid is an idiot.

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I think that suspension is heavy handed. I actually think a suspension at all is far too heavy handed. Saying it to a kid for one thing but saying it to another player or just to no one in particular in the heat of the moment is pretty normal based on my experience. I have heard things from the field far worse than that many, many times.

I think that suspension is heavy handed. I actually think a suspension at all is far too heavy handed. Saying it to a kid for one thing but saying it to another player or just to no one in particular in the heat of the moment is pretty normal based on my experience. I have heard things from the field far worse than that many, many times.

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This is something that you have to take a stand against, you can't back down, it doesn't matter to whom he said it to. This kinda hate leaves very little wiggle room.

This is something that you have to take a stand against, you can't back down, it doesn't matter to whom he said it to. This kinda hate leaves very little wiggle room.

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Do you have any idea what goes on on the field. In all sports? I spent 10 years on the bench for the Attack and 2 standing on the sideline at Arrowhead for the Wizards and I heard guys threaten to kill each other, threaten to rape each other's mothers, and all kinds of stuff. What he said is giving a guy a hug compared to what I have heard. Getting 3 games for a word is ridiculous no matter what word it was.

I am fully aware of the vitriol that is spewed forth, bigotry shouldn't be one of them. Swearing is fine, it is the norm, if someone is swearing at a bar it gets little attention, some swears on the street people aren't offended. Bigotry is completely different, go around yelling slurs and you will find yourself in plenty of trouble.

Do you have any idea what goes on on the field. In all sports? I spent 10 years on the bench for the Attack and 2 standing on the sideline at Arrowhead for the Wizards and I heard guys threaten to kill each other, threaten to rape each other's mothers, and all kinds of stuff.

You cant stomp it out. Well, they could mic every single player and fine and suspend them for everything they say but then we wouldnt have a league because all of them would be suspended and fined within a few games.

That remains to be seen. I have no problem suspending someone for the hateful, homophobic language that both Clark and Burch used has no place on the field in the modern game.

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You cant stop a bunch of men who are filled with adrenaline and testerone who are in a physical, intense battle from saying certain things. You can threaten to ban guys for life and it will still happen. What comes out of your mouth in that situation isnt really controllable. I guarantee Burch didnt put any thought of what came out. It just happens. Anyone who has ever played sports of this intensity should know this. Being able to verbally bash another player or just spout off in the middle of the field is an outlet of rage for athletes. You start telling them they need to talk like they are in church then those guys no longer have that outlet and you see more Brian Mullen leg breaking.

Words are nothing more than sounds. Giving them so much meaning and making such a big deal of it doesnt help anyone. It's ridiculous. People are arguing that what Burch said is hurtful to some people. Yeah, but hardly anyone would have noticed had people started writing letters, suspending him, and making a story of it. No one would even remember it happened had no one reacted. You react and then tens of thousands more people know about it then would have otherwise which completely contradicts the point of the suspension in he first place. This entire situation and the way people are reacting is childish to put it lightly. This never would have been an issue a few years ago.

You cant stop a bunch of men who are filled with adrenaline and testerone who are in a physical, intense battle from saying certain things. You can threaten to ban guys for life and it will still happen. What comes out of your mouth in that situation isnt really controllable. I guarantee Burch didnt put any thought of what came out. It just happens. Anyone who has ever played sports of this intensity should know this. Being able to verbally bash another player or just spout off in the middle of the field is an outlet of rage for athletes. You start telling them they need to talk like they are in church then those guys no longer have that outlet and you see more Brian Mullen leg breaking.

Saying it to a ball kid is WAY worse than to an adult.
Saying it to a fan/volunteer is worse than to anyone paid to be on the field.
Saying it to a ref is worse than saying it to an opponent.
Saying it to an opponent is pretty hard to police. It's the same as driving five over the speed limit. A lot of people do it, it doesn't really hurt anyone, and you're only sorry if you get caught.

If I had a vote (and I don't - there's a reason people who think like me aren't in high-viz public positions) I'd say red card equivalent for it. And I also think the 3-game for saying it to the ball kid was very appropriate.

People who use slurs aren't "spreading hate" they're revealing their own limited vocabulary. You can only get so upset about that before you're making mountains out of mole hills.

So... no one here heard what the dude said, but we all could read lips and knew what he was saying anyway. Just like no one here read your foul language in ****'s, but everyone knows what you mean anyway.

But, I dont agree he should be punished for it. If it could be quantified, I would be willing to bet a lot of money that that word and many others like it have been said dozens, if not hundreds of times on MLS fields this season. Also, by punishing him for it, you are giving more attention to it. It's like trying to put out a fire with cooking oil.

I just know what it is like to be in the heat of the moment and not being able to control your mouth. Some people are like that when competing. If you are one of those people that get enraged on the field, you often use your mouth to release the rage. If you arent one of those people, then you probably think you can just shut your mouth. If you dont blow off steam that way, it can become a problem as it just builds and builds. A lot of times these are the players that are the ones your cheer for the most. I would be willing to bet that Roger is one of those people. I can see it in his eyes. I was one of those people. I used my mouth to release mounting frustration and rage on the field. Most of the time I couldnt even tell you what came out of my mouth when i said it. I wouldnt be able to recollect any of the words. It was just sounds to blow off steam.

I am not meaning to be offensive but if you pick your favorite KC players right now and in the past, some of the, if not a majority, have said similar things on the field. it is just how it is. To deny it is naive. Did you not play sports, play with other guys in the neighborhood as a kid, play video games with your friends, or just in general hang out in an all-guy environment. I am not saying that what he did is right but it is just what goes on between males in an environment like this. It just is what happens and will always happen.

I cant say it any better than this poster did in the N&A forum. This is 100% correct.

It's one of the most competitive and macho environments you can find yourself in. I'm not saying it's right, but the use of language in those environments is reality.

I'll say this though, if you're offended, you shouldn't be a sports fan. If you're up in arms about this, and at the same time think you're favorite player doesn't use derogatory language, whether it's Beckham, Henry, Tom Brady, Kobe, Jordan, whoever, you're lying to yourself. If you think this is an exception and you're team is above it, you're lying to yourself. If you're a fan of sports, you put up with it. If you've competed, you know it's the norm. If you're the least bit surprised or think this is rare, or somehow have a huge problem with it even though you sit and root for your team every week, you're in denial or ignorant to pro sports.

Did you not play sports, play with other guys in the neighborhood as a kid, play video games with your friends, or just in general hang out in an all-guy environment.

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I played soccer through highschool. I heard loads of instults, but no homophobia. I can't imagine a scenario where I think that what he said is just OMG SO AWESOME LOL FUNNY MEGABURN INSULT. It's a really hateful thing to say and when a professional athelete makes that seem okay, it's kind of a big deal to me.

But whatever. I hate the Jermaine Jones plays for the US for this same reason. On field taunting is one thing. Acceptance of bigotry is another. Maybe I'm in the minority on this one, so I'm not gonna comment further on this, except to say good for MLS on this one. I personally think they got it right.

I played soccer through highschool. I heard loads of instults, but no homophobia. I can't imagine a scenario where I think that what he said is just OMG SO AWESOME LOL FUNNY MEGABURN INSULT. It's a really hateful thing to say and when a professional athelete makes that seem okay, it's kind of a big deal to me.

But whatever. I hate the Jermaine Jones plays for the US for this same reason. On field taunting is one thing. Acceptance of bigotry is another. Maybe I'm in the minority on this one, so I'm not gonna comment further on this, except to say good for MLS on this one. I personally think they got it right.

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What you arent getting is that it isnt about right and wrong. It isnt about what is acceptable and not acceptable. It is about what is and how things are regardless of how outraged you are. You, Garber, and no one else is going to change how a bunch of grown behave on a sports field. It is what happens and will continue to happen regardless of how many fines or suspensions are laid down. It is how men are. If you are so offended by that then being a sports fan is the wrong hobby.

You can offer down life long bans, million dollar fines, and the death sentence and men throwing insults at each other in a sports competition is not going to reduce. I have a hard time believing you played soccer in high school and didnt hear the f word, n word, and any other word which offends a certain group of people. I cannot even tell you how many times I got called the f word on a soccer field. 5 times a game would probably be a low estimate. I didnt play this last fall season but in the spring season I got called it a few times in the OP over 30 league in the 6 games I played.

Just because someone uses the term, ************ does not mean they are homophobic or even against homosexuals.

I have heard professional athletes who are great friends off the field call each other the f word, n word, tell each other they are going to rape each other mothers on the field and hug when the game is over. It is part of sports whether you like it or not, our guys, regardless of how great you think they are, are doing the same thing on the field at LSP.

I played soccer through highschool. I heard loads of instults, but no homophobia. I can't imagine a scenario where I think that what he said is just OMG SO AWESOME LOL FUNNY MEGABURN INSULT. It's a really hateful thing to say and when a professional athelete makes that seem okay, it's kind of a big deal to me.

But whatever. I hate the Jermaine Jones plays for the US for this same reason. On field taunting is one thing. Acceptance of bigotry is another. Maybe I'm in the minority on this one, so I'm not gonna comment further on this, except to say good for MLS on this one. I personally think they got it right.

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So how do you feel about players on SKC using that language, because they do. Is it a big enough problem for you that you'll no longer go to SKC games? No longer watch? No longer follow? Or have you convinced yourself the players your root for on SKC don't use that language simply because a camera closeup hasn't caught them? Is it ok you with until they get caught?